, RESEARCHERS SPENT FIVE MONTHS DOING A DEEP DIVE INTO THE CAUSES OF UNSHELTERED HOMELESSNESS. TODAY THEY PRESENTED A REPORT WITH WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO GET PEOPLE OFF THE STREET. >> I WOULD SURMISE NO ONE HERE IS CURRENTLY HOMELESS. I WOULD NOTE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE PEOPLE WITHOUT THEM IN THE ROOM. DENI: AFTER HOURS OF STUDY AND DOZENS OF INTERVIEWS A TEAM OF RESEARCHERS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE PRESENTED THEIR FINDINGS ABOUT THE CAUSES OF HOMELESSNESS IN THE CITY. >> GROWING IN CAMP AND’S ARE INCREASINGLY VISIBLE. OTHERS ARE SLEEPING IN THEIR CARS. THE STUDY WAS FUNDED WITH -- DENI: THE STUDY WAS FUNDED WITH $50,000 FROM LOUISVILLE METRO. >> WHERE WE HAVE HAD ADEQUATE RESOURCES WE DENI: THE TEAM’S HAVE SEEN SUCCESS. DENI: THE TEAM’S GOAL WAS TO COME UP WITH A LIST OF BEST PRACTICES FOR HELPING PEOPLE GET OFF THE STREETS, INTO SHELTERS AND EVENTUALLY INTO STABLE HOUSING. >> THE NEEDS OF INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS ARE DIVERSE AS THEY ARE. -- ARE AS DIVERSE AS THEY ARE. DENI: THEY CAME UP WITH A SET OF EIGHT RECOMMENDATIONS BUT EMPHASIZED TWO IN PARTICULAR, THE NEED FOR MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND MORE LOW-BARRIER SHELTERS. >> AND DEVELOP A SYSTEM OF LOW-BARRIER SHELTERS THAT CAN BE ACCESSIBLE. >> FOR FAMILIES THAT IS A HUGE NEED IN OUR CITY. DENI: TINY HERRON MARKWELL IS A HOMELESS OUTREACH COORDINATOR. SHE SAYS THE REPORT WAS SPOT ON. >> THEY REALLY GOT A GOOD, A GOOD GRASP ON WHAT THE NEEDS ARE. DENI: MARKWELL AND THE RESEARCHERS SAY THE BIGGEST OBSTACLE IS FINDING THE MONEY NEEDED TO TACKLE THE PROBLEM AND HELP THOSE IN NEED. >> IT IS GOING TO TAKE DEDICATION AND MAKING DIFFERENT DECISIONS ABOUT HOW WE ARE SPENDING AND INVESTING RESOURCES. DENI: THE RESEARCH TEAM ALSO RECOMMENDED MAKING CHANGES TO CASE MANAGEMENT. THAT WAY PEOPLE CAN BUILD THEIR RELATIONSHIPS WITH CASEWORKERS. THEY ALSO RECOMMENDED REVISING ENCAMP

Researchers from University of Louisville presented the findings of a study they conducted on the unsheltered homeless population in the city during a news conference Tuesday. A team of researchers from University of Louisville's Commonwealth Institute of Kentucky (CIK) and Cooperative Consortium for Transdisciplinary Social Justice Research (CCTSJR) spent five months studying the problems and conducting interviews with homeless individuals and outreach coordinators. The study was funded with $50,000 from Louisville Metro."Our specific task was to better understand unsheltered homeless. The growing number of encampments has been increasingly visible, and other residents are sleeping in their cars and on vacant or abandoned properties," said Dr. Susan Buchino, with the Commonwealth Institute of Kentucky's Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences Department. Buchino and her team came up with a set of eight recommendations, including expanding and evolving homeless services, revising encampment policies and offering more low-barrier shelter options. They also suggested improving collaboration between agencies and outreach groups, increasing affordable housing units and creating policies that will address the root causes of homelessness. "The needs of individuals experiencing homelessness are as diverse as they are, and each person deserves appropriate and individualized supports that recognize their human value and intrinsic resilience," Buchino said. The team put emphasis on two recommendations: creating more low-barrier shelters and increasing affordable housing units in the city. "Our main findings are that we lack resources in terms of affordable housing and in terms of shelter beds," said Dr. Kelly Kinahan, with University of Louisville's Department of Urban and Public Affairs. Addressing these issues would require significant investment from the city, as well as funding from the state and federal governments. "It is going to take dedication, and, you know, making some different decisions on how we're spending and investing resources," Kinahan said. Tiny Herron Markwell, a homeless outreach coordinator, said the report was spot on."They really got a good, a good grasp on what the needs are," Herron Markwell said. She hopes helping those who are unsheltered will be a priority for the city. "Putting money into funding that type of, that level of care with the type of work that we do," Markwell said.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. —

Researchers from University of Louisville presented the findings of a study they conducted on the unsheltered homeless population in the city during a news conference Tuesday.

A team of researchers from University of Louisville's Commonwealth Institute of Kentucky (CIK) and Cooperative Consortium for Transdisciplinary Social Justice Research (CCTSJR) spent five months studying the problems and conducting interviews with homeless individuals and outreach coordinators.

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The study was funded with $50,000 from Louisville Metro.

"Our specific task was to better understand unsheltered homeless. The growing number of encampments has been increasingly visible, and other residents are sleeping in their cars and on vacant or abandoned properties," said Dr. Susan Buchino, with the Commonwealth Institute of Kentucky's Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences Department.

Buchino and her team came up with a set of eight recommendations, including expanding and evolving homeless services, revising encampment policies and offering more low-barrier shelter options. They also suggested improving collaboration between agencies and outreach groups, increasing affordable housing units and creating policies that will address the root causes of homelessness.

"The needs of individuals experiencing homelessness are as diverse as they are, and each person deserves appropriate and individualized supports that recognize their human value and intrinsic resilience," Buchino said.

The team put emphasis on two recommendations: creating more low-barrier shelters and increasing affordable housing units in the city.

"Our main findings are that we lack resources in terms of affordable housing and in terms of shelter beds," said Dr. Kelly Kinahan, with University of Louisville's Department of Urban and Public Affairs.

Addressing these issues would require significant investment from the city, as well as funding from the state and federal governments.

"It is going to take dedication, and, you know, making some different decisions on how we're spending and investing resources," Kinahan said.

Tiny Herron Markwell, a homeless outreach coordinator, said the report was spot on.

"They really got a good, a good grasp on what the needs are," Herron Markwell said.

She hopes helping those who are unsheltered will be a priority for the city.

"Putting money into funding that type of, that level of care with the type of work that we do," Markwell said.